Injuries quickly adding up early in NFL season

Chicago Bears defensive tackle Henry Melton (69) is taken off the field on a cart after being injured in the third quarter of an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Pittsburgh, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2013. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Chicago Bears defensive tackle Henry Melton (69) is taken off the field on a cart after being injured in the third quarter of an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Pittsburgh, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2013. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

FILE - In this Sept. 23, 2013 file photo, Oakland Raiders quarterback Terrelle Pryor (2) leaves the field late in the fourth quarter of an NFL football game against the Denver Broncos in Denver. The Raiders enter a short week of preparation with uncertainty at quarterback. (AP Photo/Joe Mahoney, File)

FILE - In this Aug. 16, 2012, file photo, Notre Dame linebacker Manti Te'o answers a question during NCAA college football media day in South Bend, Ind. The wrenching story of Te'o's girlfriend dying of leukemia _ a loss he said inspired him to play his best all the way to the BCS championship _ was dismissed by the school Wednesday, Jan. 16, 2013, as a hoax perpetrated against the linebacker. (AP Photo/Joe Raymond, File)

Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Roddy White (84) on the sidelines during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2013, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Green Bay Packers outside linebacker Clay Matthews watches from the sidelines in the first half of an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2013, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Tom Uhlman)

The wide receiver was one of four Philadelphia Eagles to tear an ACL in training camp. The Eagles really felt Maclin’s absence in last week’s loss to Kansas City. Jackson was held to just three catches after having 16 receptions for 297 yards and two touchdowns in the first two games.

“We never look at it if we had Jeremy Maclin, it’s a different situation,” Kelly said yesterday. “I don’t think it’s productive to think about it that way. It’s not going to change. Mac isn’t coming back until next year.”

Several NFL teams face similar problems. Replacing important starters with capable backups often can be the difference between missing the playoffs and playing in January. It’s not always the best teams that win in the end, but the healthiest ones with the most depth.

ACL injuries are perhaps the most significant because they’re season-ending and require a longer recovery time, but plenty of other body parts besides the knee are knocking players out of the lineup.

Here are five common injuries putting players on the sideline:

ACL/knee

A torn anterior cruciate ligament used to be a devastating injury. Modern medicine changed that, and many players come back and perform at a high level. Check Adrian Peterson. Still, it’s a big deal because guys are out for the year.

Ravens wide receiver Jacoby Jones, Lions running back Reggie Bush and Cowboys defensive end Anthony Spencer also have been sidelined by other knee injuries this season.

Concussion

Raiders quarterback Terrell Pryor had his best passing day before leaving Monday night’s loss to Denver with a concussion. It’s uncertain when Pryor will return, but his concussion isn’t as severe as the one that ended the season for Bills quarterback Kevin Kolb.

Clay Matthews became the latest Packers player to injure a hamstring during a 34-30 loss to Cincinnati on Sunday. He joins safety Morgan Burnett, cornerback Casey Hayward and fullback John Kuhn, causing Coach Mike McCarthy to joke that the “Wisconsin diet” must be a factor for the team’s spate of hamstring pulls.

There are varying degrees of hamstring injuries. Falcons running back Steven Jackson already missed one game and could be out a few more. Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald played through his the past two weeks, but his production dropped significantly.

Chargers linebacker Manti Te’o and Steelers running back Le’Veon Bell still haven’t made their NFL debuts because of foot injuries. Bill safety Jairus Byrd also missed the first three games with a foot problem, and Falcons linebacker Sean Weatherspoon will miss two months. Broncos left tackle Ryan Clady went down for the season with a Lisfranc tear in his left foot, and Cardinals linebacker Lorenzo Alexander is out for the year because a torn ligament in his right foot.